Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-07-21


Fort Hill. on the north branch Of Brusl
creek, a branch Of the Seioto, inclosed fort
acres with stohe wall. twelve feet high, In,
wall being so old that il is almost impossibl,
to tell where the wall leaves on and the hill
begins. On the top was an old oak STUMP
seven feet in diameter and more than twenty.
two feet in circumference; this oak, one OF
the largest of the species in America, had
evidently grown, and gone to decay since the
wall of the fort was built.
sAcRIFlcIAL MOUNDS.
Sacrifcial mounds are usually stratifed,
the strata being convex layers of sand,
clay, and loan, alternating with a layer
of fine sand. They generally contain ashes,
charcoal, stones, calcined bones of animals,
stone implements and rude pottery. Such
mounds are frequently found within en-
closures. An altar of stone or burnt clay is
usually found in this class of mounds. These
affairs which sometimes rest on the surface of
the original earth, at the center of the mound,
are symmetrically shaped; upon such altars
racridces of animals and probably of hu-
man beings were made, fire being used in the
sacrifice. Some Of this class of mounds seem
also to have been used as places of sepulture
| probably for their priests-as well as for
sacrifice, as shown by the presence of skele-
tons. In common with sepulchral mounds
these also contain mica from the Alleghenies
probably, shells obsidian, and in some cases
porphyry from Mexico, as well as copper
articles for use and ornament.
group of mounds on the Little Miami
fifteen miles above Cincinnati, instanced
above, has proved rich in discoveries, show
ing evidences of religious rites in burnt offer
lngs. The Turner group of mounds in An
derson township, Adams county, Ohio, re-
yealed the burning of wood and soft coal.
There are evidences in abundance of the
handiwork of these ancient people in the use
of copper, gold, silver, meteoric iron and
mica in making ornaments, such as ear
rings and bracelets; one pattern of earring
required Sitting the ear, so that the orna-
ment would be buttoned on, as sleeve but
ton is now used.
TEMPLE MOUNDS.
This class is less numerous and generally
larger than the former classes, and in form
Is usually circular. or oval, or octagonal-in-
varlably truncated and often surrounded
with embankments; many of them have spiral
pathways, or inclined planes leading to their
SUBMITS. They are generally large at the base
and limited in height. They were also used
to a alimited extent for burial purposes. It is
supposed that they we're originally crowned
with temples, which have disappeared owing
to the perishable nature of their material,
probably wood.
bhOuANo Va ODSoENdblOu are R6ueEdlly upon
emlnences and we're used as observatories,
alarm-posts, watch-towers, signal-stations,
or look-outs; they are said to occur in regular
chains or series, and that many of them
bear traces of ancint beacon fires. They are
sometimes found in connection with en-
bankments and enclosures, of which they
form portion. One of this class is situated
two miles of Newark, and is some what mu-
tilated. This class of mounds is rather num-
in thnr ~ Hf H. Gkoko llx,l
along the water courses.
MEMORIAL MOUNDS.
This class of tumuli was erected, evidently
to perpetuate the memory of someimportant
event or distinguished individual. These are
mostly built of earth but some are of stone, |
the latter being perhaps of later origin and
may perhaps be attributed to the Indians.
EMgies or animal mounds are raised fig |
ures of beasts, birds, and reptiles and in some |
of inanimate objects, proving that |
the religion of these ancient people was ami |
NAL or fetieh worship. They are ON the sur
face of the earth, from one to six feet above !
the natural surface. Mr.. Schoolcraft calls |
them ''totems" or heraldic signs. Prof.
Daniel Wilson, in his sspre-historic man." |
calls them symholical mounds and holds to |
The opinion that they were erected as objects
of ofworship, or for altars on which sacrifices
we're made, or served some other purpose
connected with their religious rites. OF these
The three most remarkable are the eagle
mound" near the center of ''The old Fort" at |
Newark, Ohio, and ''The Alligator mound"
on the summit of hill nearly two hundred
feet high, near Granville, Licking county.
'The Mound" in Adams county is supposed
10 have been worshipped- serpent having
been prominent in archaeological discoveries
rom Ohio to Peru. Serpent worship is one
If the most ancient cults in the world, and
n Europe is known to have been one of the
earliest, but America was peopled by a more
lncient race than Europe, it is held, hence
hese serpent mounds are more numerous in
his country.
ITO I'm coMTrxuxp.